pimo

“Jesus, I want to believe you. I think that you are real, and I don't know what that means.”

These are the bold and sincere words that today’s guest prayed at the very moment she encountered Jesus for the first time. 

As we continue with our “Encounter” series, today you will get to meet our guest Phaedra Taylor. She is kind, and a very talented artist located in Austin, TX. I could talk to her for hours. Her story is so incredible and so powerful. Phaedra was raised in a cult as a Jehovah's Witness. For years she lived an oppressed and controlled life, and that was the only way she knew how to live it. Until one day, when her life was completely falling apart, she had an encounter with Jesus. This encounter was a fruit of prayers and intentionality from Christian friends she met in college. 

Grab some tissues, go listen, and make sure to check out Phaedra’s work linked in this episode’s  show notes.

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If you know the history behind the Jehovah's Witness religion, you are well aware of how it feels being at odds with the beliefs once you realize it is not the truth. Many JW's are in a quandary where they have to fake it just to survive. That is what being a PIMO is all about. It is an acronym for Physically In, Mentally Out. To further explain, it's all about pretending to believe so that you don't lose your family and social structure.

The term PIMO was coined several years ago to identify the growing number of individuals that are trapped in the religion for one reason or another. Because of the strict shunning  policy, Jehovah's Witnesses realize they can lose everything if they allow others to know how they truly feel about the organization. They stand to lose their marriage, job, friends, home, and anything else that connects them to a person that holds the cards to any situation as it relates to their livelihood.

This podcast delves into the lives of members at the world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses aka Bethel. During the COVID-19 lockdown, members at Bethel experienced a very turbulent time as they were not permitted to leave the premises. They report alcohol abuse, domestic violence, depression and even suicidal thoughts.

Source of this video: exjwbethelelder (Reddit)
https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/v9mgao/a_special_message_from_a_pimo_bethel_elder_see/